Senators Reject Demand Officials Wanted To Halt Fpl Plans

February 2, 1989|By TREVOR JENSEN, Staff Writer

Two state legislators on Wednesday dampened the hopes of local officials and developers who wanted to move Florida Power & Light`s proposed 500,000-volt electric transmission line to the conservation areas of western Broward County.

``This line will not be built in the conservation area, it will not happen,`` state Sen. Tom McPherson, D-Fort Lauderdale, said during a Broward League of Cities executive committee meeting. ``There will not be another power line west of U.S. 27.``

City officials had hoped to enlist state legislators in their battle to move the lines into the conservation areas instead of following FPL`s proposed route through Broward, roughly along the Sawgrass Expressway and Interstate 75.

But McPherson`s stance may force them to look for alternatives to their demand that the line be moved away from some of the county`s most lucrative areas for development.

McPherson and state Sen. Howard Forman, D-Pembroke Pines, winced when they heard developer Robert Shelley say that a choice had to be made between protecting frogs and protecting children from the electromagnetic fields created by the huge power lines.

``That`s inane,`` McPherson said.

The legislators said they would investigate whether the line is really needed or whether it can be put underground.

McPherson said he will meet with FPL officials on Tuesday to learn more about the line.

Local officials agreed to wait and consider his recommendations on how to proceed in the fight against FPL`s proposal. In the meantime, the league`s executive committee unanimously endorsed a resolution opposing the power line.

FPL says the line will ensure reliability of electrical service in growing South Florida and keep consumer costs down. If approved, construction on the line could begin by 1992.

The state Public Service Commission agreed in April that the line was needed, which allowed FPL to proceed with mapping out the corridor.

Tom Ballinger, an engineer with the commission, said the cities could file a petition asking the commission to reconsider its decision, or appeal it to the state Supreme Court.

FPL spokesman Gary Mehalik said that going underground with the line would cost 10 times the estimated $150 million cost of putting it overhead.